Re: RC: Re: Barefoot and hoof growth

["Susan Garlinghouse" <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

> proving that the particular horseshoe does in fact
> give the horse better circulation.  He does a very
> complete study with standard shoes and barefoot, but


I don't disagree that barefoot horses very likely do have better blood flow
to the foot than a shod horse.  I do have a problem with then extrapolating
that one finding into conclusions that these minor changes in bloodflow are
then going to affect kidney and liver function.  Gimme a break, 20% of
cardiac output goes to the kidneys, barring ischemia or pathology, and the
artery flowing into it is like a freeway.  You could totally occlude
bloodflow to the feet entirely and the kidneys would never notice the
difference in workload.  And besides, I agree with Maggie's
assessment---horn tissue is dead tissue and has no role in excretion of
waste products.

Susan G